Building and Pest Inspections Before You Sell: Why Sellers Should Go First

Why get your own building and pest inspection before listing?

A buyer's building and pest inspection is designed to find problems. When a buyer's inspector finds significant issues, it either kills the deal or gives the buyer ammunition to renegotiate the price downward. If you already know exactly what the inspection will find, you can decide whether to fix the issues or price accordingly, rather than being blindsided mid-campaign.

A pre-sale inspection typically costs $400 to $700 for a house in Brisbane. Against a potential $30,000 to $50,000 price renegotiation or a lost sale, this is one of the highest-ROI investments a seller can make.

Building and pest inspection: what to expect

A combined building and pest inspection examines the structural condition of the dwelling (including roof, subfloor, walls, windows and drainage) and inspects for evidence of timber pest activity including termites, borers and wood decay. In Queensland, most inspectors are licensed under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission framework.

Common issues found in Brisbane homes include:

• Termite damage in subfloor timbers (particularly in homes built before 1995)
• Moisture and drainage issues around concrete slabs and footpaths
• Cracked render or fascia boards on post-war brick homes
• Roof sheeting wear or missing roof screws on older metal roofs
• Outdated or deteriorating bathroom waterproofing